Strong winds causing additional power outages across Maine

BANGOR, Maine — While utility crews made significant progress restoring power to customers left in the dark after Monday’s heavy rains, strong winds on Tuesday caused thousands of additional outages.

At its peak, Emera Maine reported more than 4,000 customers were without power on Tuesday, according to the company’s website. Nearly half of those were in Washington County. By just before 6 p.m., all but 78 customers had power restored, according to the company’s website.

Central Maine Power reported 3,000 outages, including 1,442 in Penobscot County, early in the day. By late afternoon, only 171 were still without service.

In Ellsworth, the power was out at City Hall, along much of High Street and on Surry Road for about 30 minutes, according to Facebook posts. The power came back on just before 11 a.m.

A dispatcher at Penobscot Regional Communications Center said calls regarding downed trees and power lines were received in droves throughout the day.

The dispatcher said most of the calls occurred in southern Penobscot County, and he added the entire town of Bradford was without power shortly after 1 p.m.

While the sun returned after Monday’s rain, it brought with it bitter cold and the National Weather Service issued wind chill advisories for northern parts of the state.

Aroostook, Piscataquis, Penobscot and northern Somerset counties will be under the advisory from 5 p.m. Tuesday through 10 a.m. Wednesday, the weather service reported.

Wind chills are expected to dip as low as 34 below zero in those counties.